Common GDevelop Issues and Solutions

1. Project Fails to Load

GDevelop fails to open a project file, preventing further development.

Root Causes:

• Corrupt or missing project files.
• Compatibility issues with an older GDevelop version.
• Incorrect file path or project location.

Solution:

Ensure the project file (.json or .gdg) exists:

ls /path/to/project/

Try opening the project in a different version of GDevelop:

Download previous releases from https://gdevelop.io/download

Check for missing assets and restore them:

Verify all image and sound files exist in the project directory.

2. Event System Bugs

Game logic does not execute as expected, causing gameplay errors.

Root Causes:

• Incorrect event order or missing conditions.
• Conflicts between overlapping events.
• Variables not updating correctly during runtime.

Solution:

Enable event debugging mode:

View > Debugger and Performance Profiler

Use console.log() in JavaScript events to debug values:

console.log(runtimeScene.getVariables().get("playerScore").getAsNumber());

Check if conditions are mutually exclusive and logically ordered.

3. Export and Deployment Errors

GDevelop games fail to export for web, desktop, or mobile platforms.

Root Causes:

• Incorrect export settings or missing dependencies.
• Firewall or antivirus blocking the export process.
• Incompatible assets or scripts causing build failure.

Solution:

Ensure you have an active internet connection for cloud builds:

ping gdevelop.io

Use local build export if online export fails:

File > Export > Manual Build

Check GDevelop logs for export errors:

Help > Open Debugger Console

4. Performance Bottlenecks

Games experience lag, frame drops, or unresponsive input.

Root Causes:

• Too many objects or sprites in a single scene.
• Heavy physics simulations slowing down rendering.
• Unoptimized event logic causing unnecessary calculations.

Solution:

Enable the performance profiler to identify bottlenecks:

View > Debugger and Performance Profiler

Reduce the number of active objects in a scene:

Use object pooling instead of creating and deleting objects dynamically.

Optimize physics and animations:

Reduce collision checks and disable unused physics behaviors.

5. Plugin Compatibility Problems

Third-party extensions and plugins fail to load or function correctly.

Root Causes:

• Outdated plugins incompatible with the current GDevelop version.
• Missing dependencies or incorrect plugin configurations.
• JavaScript runtime errors in custom code extensions.

Solution:

Update all installed plugins:

Project Manager > Extensions > Update

Check browser console logs for JavaScript errors:

Open DevTools (F12) > Console

Manually reinstall problematic plugins:

Remove and re-add the extension from the GDevelop store.

Best Practices for GDevelop Optimization

• Use object pooling to improve performance and reduce memory usage.
• Optimize event logic by avoiding unnecessary loops and conditions.
• Enable debugging tools to monitor game performance.
• Test game builds on multiple platforms before deployment.
• Keep GDevelop and extensions updated for the latest improvements.

Conclusion

By troubleshooting project loading failures, event system bugs, export errors, performance bottlenecks, and plugin compatibility problems, developers can ensure a stable and efficient GDevelop workflow. Implementing best practices enhances game performance and smooths the development process.

FAQs

1. Why is my GDevelop project not opening?

Check for missing or corrupt project files, ensure compatibility with your GDevelop version, and restore missing assets.

2. How do I debug event logic errors in GDevelop?

Use the debugger and console logs to track variable changes and verify event execution order.

3. Why is my game lagging in GDevelop?

Reduce the number of active objects in a scene, optimize physics usage, and avoid unnecessary event loops.

4. How do I fix export errors in GDevelop?

Use manual export if cloud builds fail, check logs for errors, and ensure correct export settings.

5. What should I do if a plugin is not working?

Update the plugin, check for JavaScript errors in the browser console, and reinstall the extension if needed.